Melissa grinned. For the first time in her life she was actually comfortable in her own body and didn’t feel inferior to Tracey. If anything, Tracey looked tarty tonight in her short bright green mini-dress. Mutton done up as lamb, Melissa thought.
‘I love your long hair too. How did you shift all your weight? If you don’t mind me asking.’
‘My hair is actually extensions,’ Melissa chuckled. ‘Look real though, don’t they? I’ve always wanted long hair, but my hair is fine and would never grow that long. Got my personal trainer to thank for the weight loss. Roy Nixon, his name is. He’s the best. I’ll give you his number, if you like?’ Melissa said, craning her neck to see how Tracey and Greg were getting on.
When the DJ played Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive’ Melissa whooped with delight. This song pretty well summed up the way she felt about that bastard she’d married.
When Greg headed off to the toilet, Melissa wandered over to Tracey. ‘Well? How’s it going?’
‘He’s gorgeous. I think I’m in love. He’s asked to take me out for a meal tomorrow night,’ Tracey slurred.
‘He’s certainly a looker. I’m pleased for you, mate. It’s about time you had some luck with men.’
‘I got you to thank for dragging me here. Sorry I was miserable earlier.’
‘No worries. What does he do for a living?’ Melissa asked. She knew full well how shallow Tracey was when it came to men. If they didn’t have a high-paying job or a pile of ill-gotten gains from criminal activities, her friend wasn’t interested.
‘He reckons he’s a property developer, but he might just be saying that. I think he looks a bit of a villain, don’t you? He was very vague – at first he would only tell me that he “wheels and deals”.’
‘Shush. He’s coming back,’ Melissa warned.
Tracey squeezed Greg’s hand. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the ladies’ room now. Mel’s my bezzie mate. Talk to her for a minute. She’ll tell you all the terrible things we used to get up to at school. We were right cowbags, weren’t we, Mel?’ Tracey chuckled before walking away.
Greg smiled at Melissa. ‘I think your friend likes me.’
Melissa smiled back. ‘Yes. I think she does too.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Six Weeks Later
‘Toby, don’t squeeze the balloon like that, darling. It might burst and hurt you,’ Melissa Rampling said, lifting the five-year-old in the air.
‘Sorry,’ Toby replied, hugging the woman he truly adored. Unlike his mum, Auntie Mel would play games with him for hours on end and he loved the sleepovers at her house because they were always so much fun.
Tracey Thompson ruffled her son’s blond hair. ‘Be a good boy. Thanks again for looking after him at such short notice, Mel. Dunno what I’d do without you at times.’
‘My pleasure. You know how much I love spending time with him. Where’s Greg taking you today? Anywhere special?’
‘Yes. He’s booked an overnight stay at some posh manor house in Surrey. Looked fabulous in the photos he showed me,’ Tracey grinned. Meeting Greg Richardson had been a real stroke of luck. Though they’d only been dating six weeks, he was ‘The One’, Tracey was sure of it.
‘Spill the beans then. How’s it going?’ Melissa laughed. Given his striking resemblance to Brad Pitt, cheeky grin and bubbly personality, it was no wonder Tracey had fallen head over heels for Greg. He oozed charm.
‘It’s going well. But …’ Tracey paused.
‘But what?’
‘Toby, go and play with your toys in the other room while Mummy talks to Auntie Mel,’ Tracey ordered. Melissa was actually Toby’s godmother, but for some strange reason her son insisted on calling her ‘Auntie’.
‘What’s up?’ Mel asked.
‘Nothing bad. He’s just a bit vague about things. Look, if I tell you something, you have to promise me you won’t say anything to Simon or Jason.’
‘Course I won’t.’
‘I’m positive he’s a villain. Whenever I ask about his work, he changes the subject. He never talks about his friends either. I’ve not met a single one of them.’
‘Well, he doesn’t come from this area so that’s why you haven’t met his mates. Epsom is miles away. I spoke to him about his work and he told me he was looking for land around Essex to build flats on. I think you’re being paranoid, Trace, I really do.’
‘I’m not. There’s something I can’t put my finger on. And you’re no bloody judge – you wouldn’t know if Jason was hiding the crown jewels in the garage. Thing is, if Greg turns out to be a villain, I don’t want Simon finding out. You know how he dotes on Toby. He won’t allow Toby anywhere near him if he thinks he’s dodgy.’
‘Simon can talk. He’s mates with bloody Jason and most of his clients are criminals. You’re worrying over nothing, I’m telling ya. It’s a long time since I’ve seen you this happy, so just enjoy it.’
Tracey grinned. ‘Yeah, you’re right. Listen, thanks again for having Toby. I’ll see you tomorrow …’ She picked up her handbag, ready to go, but then paused midway. ‘You excited about tomorrow? Six years is a long time. I still can’t believe you’re getting back with him, mind. You were adamant at one point you wouldn’t.’
‘I know,’ Melissa sighed. ‘Soft touch, me. It’ll take time for Jase and me to get back on track but, fingers crossed, we can make it work. If we can’t, then I suppose we’ll call it a day. This is definitely his last chance.’
‘Can I have a biscuit please, Auntie Mel?’ Toby asked, poking his head around the door.
Glad of the interruption, Melissa scooped the boy into her arms. ‘You can have whatever you want, my little ray of sunshine.’
‘Bye, Mummy,’ Toby waved.
Tracey blew a kiss. ‘Bye you two. Have fun.’
‘One more day eh, mate? Bet you can’t wait to leave me,’ said Jason’s cellmate.
Jason chuckled. ‘Not arf.’ He’d spent the past few months at Ford Open Prison awaiting his release. ‘Be your turn soon,’ he added.
‘What you looking forward to the most? Can’t wait to get me leg over, me.’
‘I’m looking forward to not listening to you banging one out any more,’ Jason laughed. ‘To be honest mate, I just want to make things right with Mel. I owe her big time for not only sticking by me, but also raising Shay as her own. Can’t wait to spend some quality time with my nan and daughter as well.’
‘What about your boy?’
‘Sore subject. Gone off the rails. My fault. Lads need a father figure in their lives, don’t they?’
‘Too right. My old woman’s been pulling her hair out with our Sam recently. Thirteen now, he is. Thinks he knows it all.’
‘Same as Donte. Sixteen and sees himself as a big man. Knocking about with my brothers, he is. Mel’s got no control over him at present. Need to sort that, I do.’
‘I’m sure you will. I’m gonna have a wander, see where Big Dan is. Fancy a game of cards later?’
‘Yeah. See you in a bit.’
When his pal left the cell, Jason lay back on his bunk with his hands behind his head. Six years, six long years would come to an end tomorrow and he’d finally be free as a bird again.
He’d been given a ten-stretch, which was light in comparison to what some of the other blokes got. One got a fifteen, another a twenty. Only one man had managed to walk free: Craig Thurston, of all people. He’d had a terrific QC who’d ripped the Old Bill to shreds. Even though Craig was the ringleader and the police knew it, they’d struggled to prove it. Nobody grassed, and he’d managed to get word to Craig before the trial to inform him of what he’d told the Old Bill in his interview. Darlene had backed the story up, God rest her soul. Jason’s brief reckoned he would have got acquitted too, had he not been seen and photographed visiting the actual slaughter. It was the little mistakes that cost you in this life.
Jason had been gutted when he’d been refused permission to attend Darlene’s funeral. He’d told
the authorities she was like a mother to him, but they weren’t having any of it. He’d seen her one last time, not long after the trial. Craig had driven her to the prison to visit him. It was very sad as he knew he would never see her again. She looked really ill by then, could barely walk. She’d shuffled along like an elderly person.
Jason’s thoughts turned to his own family. His nan had visited him regularly and was still as game as ever. Shay was doing well and had visited once a fortnight. Melissa hated prisons, so he’d only seen her once a month. But they’d spoken regularly on the phone.
Kyle and Elton were a particular worry for Jason. Elton was twenty-one now, Kyle nineteen. Both were still involved with a gang and had been in trouble with the law. Elton had done eight months in a young offenders’ institution for mugging a bloke with a knife. They lived alone now in their mother’s old flat, but had recently been threatened with eviction because of loud music and the noisy parties they regularly held. Babs didn’t see a great deal of her brothers any more. They’d given her a torrid time of it, just like his mother had. Selfishness seemed to run in his family.
Thinking of his little sister, Jason sighed. Babs had a boyfriend and a year-old baby. Britney, the child’s name was, and Jason reckoned the father must be an absolute dickhead. His name was Lee Britten and he’d chosen the kid’s name. What sane person would choose to call their daughter Britney Britten? Babs had visited him a month or so ago and her demeanour told Jason she was having problems with Lee. She’d had a cut on her face, insisted she’d walked into a door. After some interrogation, Babs admitted that Lee didn’t work, had no intention of getting a job and smoked far too much weed. Jason thought the world of his sister. She was still a big girl, wasn’t a looker, but had a heart of bloody gold. He would be paying her and Lee a visit the day after his release, that was for sure. Babs had shown him a photo of Britney Britten’s father and he’d loathed him on sight. A skinny little weasel with a massive nose and a scowl on his face. Jason had watched quite a lot of TV recently in open prison and Lee looked like a Jeremy Kyle Show regular.
Jason’s thoughts turned to Mel. She looked good now, his wife. The best he’d ever seen her look. She’d cut down on the drink, was a fitness fanatic, a toned size 8 and her new hair extensions looked natural and really suited her. Jason had felt proud when some of the lads had said what a sort she was. He’d never really seen her as such until recently. She was a bit distant with him on her monthly visits, but Jason guessed she blamed him for everything that had happened – and she had every right to.
All that would change soon though. Once he sold that painting, Jason was determined to go straight and become the husband Melissa deserved. Not only did he owe the woman, it had taken a six-stretch to make him realize how much he needed her.
‘Can we watch CBeebies, Auntie Mel? Igglepiggle, Igglepiggle, Igglepiggle,’ Toby chanted, waving his favourite cuddly character in the air.
Melissa pressed play on the DVD and snuggled up to the child she had grown to love so very much. Toby was a gift sent from heaven, in every sense of the word. She felt ever so guilty now, looking back. As Tracey’s bump had grown, she’d dreaded him being born.
Being Tracey’s birthing partner had been an experience that brought sadness and joy. Simon had paid for Tracey to go private, but he’d had to wait anxiously outside. She was way overdue, and he was afraid something would go wrong. For Melissa, being in the delivery room brought memories of Bobby flooding back; she’d been totally dumbstruck when Tracey had given birth to a boy who was the spitting image of her Bobby. It was surely fate. The likeness was uncanny.
Simon was a great father. He worshipped the ground Toby walked on. Tracey wasn’t what Mel would describe as a natural mother. She had little time for her son. Tracey had always been a selfish person and having a child hadn’t altered that. She was forever dropping Toby off to either Mel or Simon whenever she fancied some ‘me time’, as she called it. Since meeting Greg, Tracey’s demands for ‘me time’ had increased, but that didn’t bother Mel. She was more than happy to oblige.
Hearing voices outside, Melissa craned her neck. It was Shay, talking to her friend who lived opposite. They lived on the Limes Farm Estate in Chigwell now. A council estate, which was a far cry from their old abode in Repton Park. Beggars couldn’t be choosers though, and after Jason’s pawn shop had closed down a few years ago, Melissa was just glad to have a roof over her head.
‘All right, Mel? Hello, little man. What you doing here again?’ Shay grinned, crouching to tickle Toby.
‘How was work, love?’ Mel asked. Her step-daughter was eighteen and had recently started her first job in a beauty salon. She attended college a couple of days a week, the salon were paying for her course and Mel was proud of the way she’d turned out. Ever since she’d chucked Shay out, then allowed her to move back in a fortnight later, their relationship had improved. Shay had never treated Mel with much respect beforehand, but after experiencing a couple of weeks living with Babs, Elton and Kyle on the Mardyke she soon changed her tune.
‘Yeah, it was good. We had to practise our massages today and I did the best.’
‘I picked the balloons and banners up earlier. We’ll put them up in the morning. I still haven’t heard from Donte though and I’m worried sick. Will you come over the Mardyke with me and show me where Elton and Kyle live? He could be dead in a ditch for all I bloody know.’ Melissa sighed. Donte had started knocking about with a crowd of black lads from Hainault a couple of years ago. They’d hung out in Romford and that’s where her son had bumped into Kyle and Elton again. She’d done everything to discourage the friendship with Jason’s brothers, but Donte had got expelled from school earlier this year and had done as he pleased ever since. He regularly stayed out all night. She was at her wits’ end, but unable to stop him. He’d never worked yet always seemed to have money, which was another concern.
‘OK. Let me just have a quick shower first.’
Melissa got out of the lift and walked along the landing. She’d ordered Shay to lock the doors and wait in the car with Toby. She banged on the front door. There was loud music booming and, as she opened the letterbox, she could smell the sickly sweet odour of marijuana or something similar.
‘Open the door. It’s Melissa, Jason’s wife,’ she screamed through the letterbox. She could hear laughter and singing.
A neighbour came out. ‘You from the council?’
‘No. I’m looking for my son. I think he might be in there.’
The woman looked at Melissa in disgust. ‘Scum, they are in there, the lot of ’em. I don’t get no sleep any more. That racket goes on all night. It’s a bastard liberty. I’ve been on to the council so many times, but they never do nothing about it. You should be ashamed of your lad.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Melissa said to the woman, before banging on the door again.
Finally it was answered by Elton. ‘Yo, Mel. You OK?’
Melissa pushed past Jason’s brother and marched into the lounge. There were a few girls, but mainly boys. Donte was lying on the floor in just a pair of shorts smoking a spliff with his arm around a blonde girl. ‘Home, now!’ Melissa ordered.
‘Mummy’s here, Posh Boy. Time to go home,’ Kyle goaded. Even though it had been years since Donte went to a private school, the nickname for him had stuck.
Wanting the ground to open up and swallow him as all his pals laughed, Donte glared at his mother. ‘I’m busy. I’ll be home tomorrow, OK.’
Melissa marched up to her son and grabbed him by the arm. ‘You’re coming with me, now!’
Donte tore his arm away. ‘No, I ain’t. I’m not a kid any more. You can’t tell me what to do.’
‘I can while you still live under my roof. You either leave with me now, or I send the police round here to arrest you for taking drugs. Your choice.’
‘Go, Posh Boy. See ya tomorrow,’ Elton said.
‘Five o’clock, man. Don’t forget. That’s if Mummy will let you out again,
’ Kyle chuckled.
‘What a pussy, man,’ one of the gang chuckled, clicking his fingers.
‘I wouldn’t say no to fucking that mother. I is a motherfucka,’ another joked.
Donte slammed the front door and pushed his mother in the chest. ‘Why did ya have to fucking come round here? My pals are all laughing at me now, you stupid bitch.’
Melissa slapped her son across the face, hard. ‘Get in that lift, you no-good little shit.’
The following morning, Melissa Rampling was up with the larks. She’d given Donte a stern talking to on the way home yesterday, but her words had fallen on deaf ears. Donte had stared out the car window, ignoring her, then had gone straight to bed when they’d got home.
Melissa opened Shay’s bedroom door. ‘Only me, love. I heard you mooching about. I’m just going to bath Toby, then we’ll make a start on putting the banners and balloons up, shall we?’
‘Yes, OK. I’m just sending me mate a message, then I’ll go downstairs and make us a cup of tea.’
Melissa opened her son’s bedroom door. ‘Get up, Donte. I need your help decorating the house for your dad’s party.’
When her son didn’t respond, Melissa decided to shake him, but instead shook the pillows he’d put underneath his quilt.
Donte had gone out again and there was sod-all she could do about it.
‘Jase, Jase! Over here, mate,’ bellowed Simon Champion.
Jason grinned and walked towards his best pal. Simon was leaning against a black Audi Q7. ‘You OK?’ he asked, giving Jason a bear hug.
‘I am now I’m out of there. New wheels?’
‘Yeah. Bought this last year. Get in. Mel’s proper excited to see you, so is Shay.’
‘They both been OK?’
‘Yeah, they’re good. Toby’s round at theirs. Tracey’s out with the new bloke. Getting big now, my boy. Look,’ Simon said, shoving his phone under Jason’s nose.
‘He’s a cute kid, he really is. Can’t wait to finally meet him,’ Jason lied, trying to sound casual. He had very nearly crapped himself when Mel showed up one visiting time with a photo of Toby. ‘He could be Bobby’s double, couldn’t he? It’s an uncanny likeness,’ she’d gushed.
Life of Crime Page 30
